Neurological disorder? No, Mannerism

Eating habits and body ideals from the Renaissance period to the present: Perspectives from paintings on nutrition and body image

“…The term is derived from the Latin manierus, meaning 'way', and its use prevailed during the First World War. This style triumphed throughout almost all of Europe from 1530 until the end of the 16th century 37 , providing indications of the dietary habits of the period. In the second half of the 16th century, Giuseppe Arcimboldo, in 'The Four Seasons' captured the seasonality of fruits, vegetables and plants in four profile portraits 38 , illustrating the capability of nature to transform according to circumstances, to ensure survival and to provide its commodities 38 .…”

The Babinski sign in Renaissance paintings—a reappraisal of the toe phenomenon in representations of the Christ Child: observational analysis

“…An alternative hypothesis is that the dorsiflexion of the toes in some of Botticelli’s or Cranach’s infants is a Mannerist stylistic choice, as shown also by the formalised placements of the fingers 9. However, this cannot be the correct explanation, as Mannerism is an artistic style that emerged only in the later years of the Italian High Renaissance (around 1520), breaking all the codes of anatomical accuracy, proportion, and balance 19. Mannerism is clearly absent in paintings by Flemish painters such as Rogier van der Weyden or Gérard David or Rhenish painters such as Martin Schongauer, who frequently depicted the Babinski sign.…”

“…9 However, this cannot be the correct explanation, as Mannerism is an artistic style that emerged only in the later years of the Italian High Renaissance (around 1520), breaking all the codes of anatomical accuracy, proportion, and balance. 19 Mannerism is clearly absent in paintings by Flemish painters such as Rogier van der Weyden or Gérard David or Rhenish painters such as Martin Schongauer, who frequently depicted the Babinski sign. Examples of works containing the Babinski sign by these artists are in figure 2 (A, B, and C).…”

A case of acrocyanosis in a painting of the 17th century

“…The overall composition, the body of the Christ Jesus and the hands of both adults are evocative of Mannerism. 2 From a dermatological point of view, St. Catherine displays a striking redness of the fingers, the nose and the ears that would be diagnosed nowadays as idiopathic acrocyanosis (Figure 2). Acrocyanosis is a permanent vascular acrosyndrome mainly observed in young, thin and tall women.…”